News

NHS England has today (2 July) set out its planned investment decisions for certain specialised services as part of its annual commissioning round.

The decision follows a three-month public consultation on the principles and processes NHS England will follow when making investment decisions. Feedback from the consultation has helped inform the way these decisions have been made. NHS England has listened to the views of patients and service users and also taken advice from clinical experts and the independently chaired Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG).

Infliximab (Remicade) and Adalimumab (Humira) Anti-TNF treatment options for adults and children with severe refractory uveitis

NHS England has agreed with the recommendations from CPAG that final funding decisions on the following two treatments should be made after NICE has concluded its Highly Specialised Technology Appraisal process:

Elosulfase alfa (Vimizim) for Morquio A Syndrome.

Ataluren (Translarna) for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The NICE appraisal of elosulfase alfa (Vimizim) should conclude in 12 – 16 weeks’ time. NICE has said that doubts exist about the benefits and cost of this treatment in its recent draft guidance, and is therefore “minded not to recommend” the treatment for patients with Morquio A Syndrome. The manufacturer now has the opportunity to present additional evidence to NICE to address these concerns. If NICE ultimately does recommend the NHS funds this treatment then NHS England will do so. NHS England believes the manufacturer has an ethical duty to continue to support those patients it enrolled in clinical trials of elosulfase alfa whilst the NICE process is still ongoing.

NICE is expected to produce draft guidance on ataluren (Translarna) in October, with final guidance to follow shortly after. The European medicines regulator has also asked the manufacturer to undertake further studies of the treatment for completion in October.

Three further clinical policies – one on new service standards for Gender Dysphoria treatment options and two policies on the use of Rituximab – that were due to be considered as part of this round of prioritisation are now expected to be considered later in the year once more evidence has been gathered and there has been further public engagement and consultation.

James Palmer, NHS England’s Clinical Director for Specialised Commissioning, said: “These are really difficult decisions, which is why we rely on NICE wherever possible, and make use of the best available evidence as well as extensive engagement with clinical experts, patient representatives and the public. The new policies we have been able to approve will help us to improve and extend thousands of lives for years to come through prevention, identification and treatment.”

Specialised services are those services which are provided from relatively few specialist centres. Conditions treated range from long-term conditions, such as renal (kidney services), to rarer conditions such as uncommon cancers, burn care, medical genetics and specialised services for children.

The clinical commissioning policies considered as part of this process will be made available on the NHS England website from tomorrow (Friday 3 July)

Groups representing patients and services users, and other stakeholders have been told the outcome of the decisions and have been invited to meet with senior NHS England staff where they will have the opportunity to hear in detail the rationale for each decision.

NHS England typically forms clinical commissioning policies as part of the annual round of service commissioning. Where more rapid interim decisions need to be made policies can also be developed through the In Year Service Review policy or through the development of a Policy Statement.

Additions to the work programme for policy development either come from recommendations from the relevant Clinical Reference Group, from the Individual Funding Request process if an intervention is declined as it is part of a ‘cohort’, or where a Critically Clinically Urgent policy decision has been made.

NHS England clinical policies will be replaced where NICE form either a Technology Appraisal or a Highly Specialised Technology Appraisal. It is the responsibility of provider Trust clinicians to maintain their knowledge of both NICE and NHS England national clinical policy for specialised services so they can inform their patients of treatment choice.

Routes remain open to clinicians for patients with exceptional or critically clinically urgent need, to access a certain treatment or service, even where a clinical commissioning policy has not been approved through this process.

Topics

6 comments

I am 52yearz old and I have Phenylketonuri.I ready do feel e the drug Kuvan should be make available to me.So my life has a much better quality.Everyone has the right to EAT FOOD.I really find it very hard to have good control consontraction and focus.

Turning down the treatment for pku is going to have detrimental affects on my 5 year old autistic son who has stopped taking his supplement and has no understanding of his pku. I will be suing nhs England in a few months when my son will be mentally handicapped because of their decision.

I am a right above knee amputee and following my operation, life has completely changed for me. Everything has become more tiring as I am using a prosthesis, continued to work as a social worker four days a week, driving an adapted car. I take a lot of medication to subdue the nerves in the leg and also a type one diabetic on different types of tablets and jabs. I could have completely given up but I didn’t and a decent micro processor knee would have changed my life. Maybe the people making decisions about amputees have little idea of how it is for people trying to get around with one leg and giving little consideration to us.